Eating is one of life’s many pleasures, but it can turn into a grave concern when your child insists on eating only one type of food for long periods of time, is reluctant to try new types of food, is strongly averse to certain foods or simply refuses to eat.
At least one third of toddlers are said to be picky eaters, so it is not an uncommon problem. Knowing this, however, is hardly comforting when you are worried whether your children are eating enough and getting a balanced diet. So what can you do?
TIPS FOR PARENTS
For many young children, picky eating is of no real consequence and they will grow out of it as they mature. In the meantime, here is what you can do:
- Consistently offer new foods at mealtimes but make sure there is at least one thing on the table you know your child will eat. Then, offer one or two backup foods (ie. peanut butter or cereal) that do not require cooking and that your child can prepare himself.
- Establish structured snack and mealtimes and make sure your child is not filling up between meals on things like milk or juice.
- Get your child involved in food preparation.
- Keep non-nutritious snack foods out of the house.
- Give your child a nutritional supplement as a beverage or include it into foods (eg. cakes or cookies) to promote health and boost the immune system.
A REAL PROBLEM
For some children, picky eating may be a manifestation of a feeding disorder due to medical, behavioural, psychological or environmental problems. In such cases, children will experience:
- weight loss or lethargy
- poor growth and development
- impaired cognitive, emotional or academic development
- impaired immunity leading to increased susceptibility to illness
For these children, nutrition counseling, establishing “food rules” (eg. limit sweets, regular mealtimes, etc) and an oral nutritional supplement for children over the age of 1 year may be beneficial. Do seek the advice of your child’s paediatrician.
LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF PICKY EATING
Failure to consume the right combination of food for a well balanced diet can lead to stunted growth, poor mental development and a poor immune system. In fact, a recent study using the Mental Development Index (MDI) of the Bayley Score, has shown that cognitive development in picky eating children was 14 points lower than normal eaters.
Children need a well-balanced diet so that they have proper nutrients to support growth and overall health, and to provide energy for study and play.
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